Bathing cap



Sepfi 12, 1933. L DE WET 1,926,937

BATHING CAP Filed Aug. 2, 1952 Patented Sept. 1 1933 PATENT.jOFF C L BATHING CAP Ina Kathleen dc Wet,

Mount Marlow, P. 0.

Witmos Rail, Union of South Africa Application August 22, 1932, Serial No. 629,946,- and in the Union of South Africa January 2,

5 Claims. (01. 2 68) The present invention relates to bathing caps; the object being to construct a cap which provides an efiective water-tightseal between the cap and the head of the wearer so that the latters hair is kept dry.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. I is a back view of one form of cap, partly sectioned.

Fig. II is a longitudinal section on II-II Fig. I.

Fig. III is a side elevation of another form of cap. 4

Fig. IV shows the cap in use.

Referring to Figs. I and II, 2 indicates a bag made of rubber or other thin flexible material and of such size and shape as to enclose the hair of the wearer.

At the mouth of the bag is formed a rubber rim 3 of appropriate thickness to be'put under substantial tension when stretched. Said rim is straight in the sense thatits edge 4 or any transverse cross section of it'lies in one plane, and so that when pulled into position to lie on the wearers forehead in front and on the neck below the hair at the back, it remains in one plane, as indicated in Fig. IV. It is thus circumferentially tensioned at all points of its circumference and correspondingly presses inwardly with substantialpressure at all such points to make an effective water seal all around the head.

The width 5 of the'rim' is such as to maintain the straight form and also to provide enough area to make the water seal effective; a width of one inch having been found appropriate.

To increase the effectiveness of the seal, the inner surface of the rim may be formed with a series of circumferential ribs 6 and grooves '7, the ribs serving to localize the available inward pressure;

If desired means are provided for taking up and slackening the rim circumferentially to adjust it to heads of different size and to compensate for stretching of the rim in use. For this purpose in the construction shownthe rim isdivided at 8 and its two ends are continued to form loose-ended straps 9 which are adjustably secured to one anotherby such means as the buckle 10.

The water tight seal against the head is maintained between the straps 9 by extending a portion of the bag material as a gusset 11 between the-separated ends of the rim proper. Said material is thin enough to fold according to the varying distance between the ends of the rim, without occupying appreciable thickness; and 11: is

retained in contact with the head by the inward pressure of the straps 9.

A cap as described may be worn. alone, or under the commonly used diving cap which has ear pieces connected by a chin strap and is becom- 0- ing but not water tight because its lower edge is not in one plane and therefore cannot be put under straight tension.

Fig. III shows the Fig. I arrangement modified to give the diving cap appearance. In this case the cap is divided at a circumferential line 12 into separate inner and outer skirts 13 and 14, both united to and forming a continuation of the crown portion .15 and of thin flexible material. The'inner skirt is formed at its mouth with the thickened straight rim 3 as already described,

for making thewater tight seal with the head.

The outer skirt is long enough to bepulled down 7 to conceal the inner skirt, as indicated at 16, 16,

Fig. III, whilst it is also capable of being turned 'up as indicated at 17 to leave the rim 3 readily is that of .the usual diving cap.

,I claim: I

1. A bathing cap comprising a thin flexible bag adapted to cover the wearers hair, a thickened elastic rim forming for the greater part of its circumferential length a unitary structure with the bag, continuations of the rim ends extending as loose-ended'straps, and means for adjustably securing the straps to one another, a portion of the thin bag material extending as a continuation of the rim between the points of 9 the rim from which the straps diverge.

' 2. A bathing cap comprising a thin flexible bag adapted to cover the hair of the wearer and divided-towards its mouth into separate inner and outer thin flexible skirts, the inner skirt terminatingin a straight thickened rim and the outer skirt having a curved mouth including depending ear-pieces. r

3. A bathing cap comprising a thin flexible bag adapted to cover the wearers hair and divided towards its mouth into separate inner and outer thin flexible skirts, the inner skirt having a straight mouth, a straight thickened rim at said mouth, and circumferential ribs on the inner 105 surface of the rim, theouterskirt having a curved mouth including depending ear-pieces.

iv-A bathing cap comprising a thin flexible bag adapted to cover the wearers hair and divided towards its mouth into separate'inner and 11 outer thin flexible skirts, theinner skirt having ened flat strap-like elastic rim forming for the greater part of its circumference a unitary structure with the bag and adapted. to make direct contact with the wearers head, loose-ended straps forming continuations of the rim ends, and means for adjustably securing the straps to one another so as to adjust the tension of the rim when the latter is stretched around the head.

INA KATHLEEN DE WET. 

